Annelida (Worms)

Phylum Annelida (True Worms)

Wikipedia Entry

Approximate Number of Species: 16,500

Largest: The hydrothermal vent tubeworm, Riftia pachyptila, reaches lengths of 7.9 feet (2.4 meters)

Hydrothermal vent tube worms: Photo by Neptune Canada via Flikr

Smallest:  Dinophilus gyrociliatus reaches lengths of only 0.002 inches (0.05 mm)

Dinophilus worms : Photo by Nebarnix via Flikr

References:

Brusca RC & Brusca GJ (2003) Invertebrates (Sinauer Associates, Inc., Publishers, Sunderland, MA) 2nd Ed.

Rouse GW & Pleijel F (2001) Polychaetes (Oxford University Press, London).

Westheide W (1990) Polychaetes: interstitial families. Synopsis of the British Fauna, eds Kermack DM & Barnes RSK (Universal Book Services, Oegstgeest), pp 1-152.